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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Blind date: ‘The restaurant shuffled our table around three times so we could keep chatting until they closed’

A woman and a man, both in blue shirts

Rachel on Josh

What were you hoping for?
A lovely meal on a misty Saturday, hopefully with someone I’d like to see again.

First impressions?
He bought me flowers! So instantly I knew he was a gentleman.

What did you talk about?
The wonderful Bristol and Welsh standup scenes (a shoutout to Welsh Jesus). Podcasts (mainly me trying to convince him to listen to What Did You Do Yesterday?). His sister (a zookeeper). The surprising politics of lap swimming.

Most awkward moment?
Spoilers, but when we hugged goodbye I didn’t realise he was putting his phone in his coat pocket, which fumbled things a bit.

Good table manners?
Excellent – even when we ordered shell-on prawns, he kept his dignity.

Best thing about Josh?
His joy when talking about his interests.

Would you introduce Josh to your friends?
Yes, I think he’d fit right in.

Describe Josh in three words
Engaging, interesting, sweet.

What do you think Josh made of you?
Not sure, I hope he enjoyed our evening chatting as much as I did.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, but to be fair our dinner started at 5pm and the restaurant kindly shuffled our table around three times so we could keep chatting until they closed.

And … did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Perhaps not ordering the prawns – so tasty, but so messy!

Marks out of 10?
10.

Would you meet again?
Hopefully! We swapped numbers and talked about going to a gig as friends – we live too far apart for romance.

Josh on Rachel

What were you hoping for?
To find the one!

First impressions?
Very pretty, natural, great outfit and very easy to talk to.

What did you talk about?
Our shared love of comedy – finding she is also a fan of Gareth Hunt, AKA Welsh Jesus, was a surprise! Our similar upbringings – she’s Australian, but we both grew up in small towns and, like me, she’s close to her family.

Most awkward moment?
We were running out of time on our table, so the manager suggested we move for dessert, and there was just an awkward moment where we looked at each before we agreed. Then after dessert, it happened again!

Good table manners?
I had no idea how to eat the prawns, so I had to ask her to teach me.

Best thing about Rachel?
Really easy to talk to and a great smile.

Would you introduce Rachel to your friends?
Yes.

Describe Rachel in three words
Easygoing, confident, lovely.

What do you think she made of you?
Hopefully kind, a little nervous, but I think she enjoyed my company.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, but we stayed in the restaurant chatting until it closed.

And … did you kiss?
We hugged goodbye. I think we both enjoyed the date, but unfortunately no romantic spark.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I don’t think I’d change a thing. It was such an easy, enjoyable evening.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Yes, we’ve swapped numbers – hopefully we’ll go to a comedy show together.

Josh and Rachel ate at Cotto, Bristol. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com

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